Neutron texture assessment of ferroelectric lead metaniobate

Texture in conventionally processed and oriented ferroelectric lead metaniobates has been examined using the neutron time-of-flight diffractometer HIPPO at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Multiple diffraction spectra from ferroelectric ceramic structures were evaluated using the Rietveld software package materials analysis using diffraction (MAUD). The spontaneous polarization is parallel to the crystallographic b-axis, resulting in an increase in b-axis oriented peaks when the material is poled. This increase is accompanied with a decrease in a-axis oriented peaks. Samples were poled in order to examine a change in ferroelectric domain texture with applied electric field. Data is presented in the form of pole figures corresponding to the symmetries of the crystal, sample, and poling conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.